“Precisely.”
“So what… what are you going to do with her?”
Chilly gave him a strange smile before glancing at his watch and looking over at Chip. “It’s been two minutes. He’s ready.”
Tom looked at him with unfocused eyes. “What? What am I ready for?”
“Our talk, Tom,” Chip said as he rose from his stool, “You see, even by your definition, none of us here are really terrorists.” He walked over and kneeled down in front of him, his blue eyes flashing with intelligence. “Except perhaps for you.”
“What do you mean by that?” Tom asked slowly, a slight slur now evident
in his voice.
“I’ve done a fair amount of digging into your background, Tom, and there’s something that seems rather peculiar to me.” He sat down in front of Tom and studied him closely. “Not the trivial stuff – your bad relationship with your sister Jane, your failed marriage, your refusal to accept the fact that you suffer from impulse control disorders. None of that really interests me in the least. No, what I’m interested in is an entry in your military records that dates back to your second tour in Afghanistan.”
Tom listened carefully and nodded his head. His feelings of anger and betrayal towards the man sitting in front from him were now gone, evaporated by the wonderful drug now coursing through his body. “Sure Chip,” he replied. “What would you like to know?”
The older man leaned in closer, his weathered face easing into a wide, friendly smile. “Tell me about Arghandab, Tom. Tell me about that night on patrol.
I want to know what really happened.
I want to know why everyone in your patrol died but you.”
58.
Alex stepped off the jet under a clear high-noon sky and paced directly towards the large hanger next to the tarmac. His two SOG agents fell in step behind him, both men warily scanning the area. As expected, a large group of men were already collected in the empty hanger, all watching him with anticipation as their cups of coffee steamed in the wintry Flagstaff air. Once inside, Alex quickly nodded to the four SOG agents that had just arrived from San Diego. He then turned to the other men in uniform.
“I’m Alex Murstead with the CIA,” he said with an impatient tone of authority. “If I got what I asked for, I’m now speaking to the most experienced Patrolmen and Police Officers ever to serve this fine town. Did I get what I asked for, gentlemen?”
“Yes sir,” the group of men said collectively, all of them fully aware that the tall, muscular man standing in front of them was now in command.
“Very good,” Alex replied. “I’ll make this as brief as possible. Please gather around the table.”
The officers and agents formed a circle around a small folding table as Alex quickly pulled out a Flagstaff street map and slapped it down on the flimsy tabletop.
“Gentlemen, I have reason to believe a terrorist or group of terrorists is currently in Flagstaff. While I can’t discuss the details of why they’re here, I can say without hesitation that, if this is the case, this person or group represents a threat unlike anything you’ve ever deal with before.”
The police officers glanced nervously at each other as Alex took a pen and circled a small area on the map.
“The good news is that we believe we know exactly what they’re targeting and where they’ll be located. My team and I will be handling all activities associated with containing and neutralizing this threat. Your job, gentlemen, is crowd control. I want four plainclothes officers to discreetly empty every business and restaurant within a two-block area around the target area. Tell people there’s a possible gas leak. Tell them there’s a big sale at Wal-Mart. I don’t give a shit what you tell them. Just make sure you don’t cause a panic.”
“Start with the businesses closest to the target and work your way out, then stay the hell out of my target area. The rest of you will redirect traffic and make sure no one gets in or out of the area without my direct authorization.” He stared at the officers sternly. “You will do this quickly, and you will do this quietly. No sirens, no flashing lights, and nothing that would indicate anything out of the ordinary. If you see something suspicious, contact me immediately. Do not – repeat – do not attempt to engage anyone without consulting with me first. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir,” the officers replied in unison.
Alex quickly detailed the target location and the position each of the officers would take around the area. After answering a few questions, he glanced at his watch and slapped his hands impatiently. “Alright, that’s it,” he said. “Our target location is less than five miles from here. I want it empty in thirty minutes.”